HOUSTON, Texas–Armed members of the activist group Open Carry Texas (OCT) were asked to leave Sonic and Chili’s restaurants last month after they entered with AK-47’s in full display. In response to footage of the events, which received national press coverage, the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) released a statement on May 30 calling the demonstrations “downright weird” and “counter productive for the gun owning community.” Now Texas gun group members are threatening to leave the NRA.

“I’m leaving the NRA,” C.J. Grisham, President of OCT, told Breitbart Texas. “I’m an Endowment Life Member which is two levels above Life Member–I’m tearing up the cards and certificates I’ve gotten from the NRA.”

Grisham said that several other open-carry groups in Texas have also threatened to leave the NRA due to its recent statement, part of which said:

“As a result of these hijinx, …popular fast food outlets have recently requested patrons to keep guns off the premises. In other words, the freedom and goodwill these businesses had previously extended to gun owners has been curtailed because of the actions of an attention-hungry few who thought only of themselves and not of those who might be affected by their behavior.

“…It’s just not neighborly, which is out of character for the big-hearted residents of Texas. Using guns merely to draw attention to yourself in public not only defies common sense, it shows a lack of consideration and manners. That’s not the Texas way. And that’s certainly not the NRA way.”

Texas Fish & Game is the largest and most popular outdoor publication in the Lone Star State. No other publication matches our coverage of hunting, fishing, guns, gear, tackle, conservation, outdoor news, and wildlife subjects. Our editorial cadre includes the best outdoor writers in the Lone Star State—all experts in their respective fields. This is the sportsman's one-stop resource for information and education on Texas' outdoors.